Shohei Ohtani had one heck of a primary inning on Wednesday in opposition to Cincinnati Reds.
However it could have come at a value for the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani struck out a pair of Reds batters within the prime of the primary inning, after which hit his league-leading forty fourth residence run within the backside of the primary to provide the Angels an early 2-0 lead over Cincinnati:
Nonetheless, Ohtani’s day ended shortly thereafter. Ohtani was lifted in the midst of an at-bat within the prime of the second, and the crew reported that he was pulled as a result of “arm fatigue:”
Shohei Ohtani was faraway from in the present day’s sport with arm fatigue.
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) August 23, 2023
Ohtani pitched a whole sport one-hitter in opposition to the Detroit Lions again on July twenty seventh, however has pitched simply 11.1 innings since then over the course of three begins. He lasted simply 4 innings in opposition to the Seattle Mariners on August third, putting out 4 and never permitting a run. That begin got here on six days’ relaxation. He then went six innings in opposition to the San Francisco Giants on August ninth, putting out 5 and getting the win.
Then got here Wednesday’s begin, the place he went simply 1.1 innings.
Whether or not it will hamper his pitching, or each facets of his sport, stays to be seen.
As that is occurring, the Angels are struggling within the playoff race. Los Angeles was simply 4.5 video games again within the AL West as July drew to an in depth, however they at present sit 11 video games again within the division, due to a 5-14 file in August. Making issues worse, the Angels at the moment are 9.5 video games again within the Wild Card chase, with each the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Crimson Sox forward of them.
Dropping any side of Ohtani’s sport — for any size of time — could possibly be a deadly blow to their playoff probabilities.
